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☆ Explainer: What India's decision to scrap its 2000-rupee note means for its economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Ira Dugal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MUMBAI, May 20 (Reuters) - India will withdraw its highest denomination currency note from circulation, the central bank said on Friday. WHY DID THE GOVERNMENT WITHDRAW 2000-RUPEE NOTES? When 2000-rupee notes were introduced in 2016 they were intended to replenish the Indian economy's currency in circulation quickly after demonetisation. However, the central bank has frequently said that it wants to reduce high value notes in circulation and had stopped printing 2000-rupee notes over the past four years. The value of 2000-rupee notes in circulation is 3.62 trillion Indian rupees ($44.27 billion).

☆ Sudan one month on: Why cease-fires are failing, and what global leaders are missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

KHARTOUM, Sudan - May 6, 2023: Sudanese Army sodliers walk near armoured vehicles stationed on a street in southern Khartoum, amid ongoing fighting against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. AFP via Getty ImagesOne month after fighting between Sudan's two military factions broke out in the capital, Khartoum, internationally-brokered peace talks in Saudi Arabia have yielded no solution. Almost a million people have fled their homes, both to locations within Sudan and across the border to neighboring countries. The World Bank and several global powers froze aid to the country after the military takeover, honoring calls from civilians not to legitimize its leadership. Targeted and collaborative efforts by the international community to exert pressure on the countries supporting Sudan's military factions were needed, Abdel-Magied said.

☆ IMF official says Sri Lanka reforms critical, evaluating progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COLOMBO, May 15 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Sri Lanka will evaluate progress made on reforms so far and complete an exercise to improve governance in key areas of the economy, an IMF official said on Monday. An IMF team is in Colombo until May 23 as part of regular consultations ahead of the first review mission later this year. "It is now essential to continue the reform momentum," said Krishna Srinivasan, Director of Asia Pacific Department at IMF. Sri Lanka, with the help of a $2.9 billion bailout from the global lender, is trying to recover from its worst financial crisis since gaining independence in 1948 and turn around its battered economy. Peter Breuer, IMF Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Asia and Pacific Department said the lender will be looking at whether the government's macro framework is still appropriate or whether it requires revisions.

☆ Intel, Boston Consulting Group team to sell AI to corporate customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Stephen Nellis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 10 (Reuters) - Intel Corp (INTC.O) and Boston Consulting Group on Wednesday said they are working together to sell generative artificial intelligence tools to big businesses. Google owner Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) are revamping their search engines with AI technology to provide answers to questions rather than lists of links. Previously, BCG employees conducted a keyword search and had to click through each document to see whether it contained what they were looking for. With the new system, the AI system can answer employees' questions using the archive or summarize entire documents. Intel built the supercomputer and software so that BCG did not have to share its data with Intel.

☆ Young Cyber Companies Face Uncertain Economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( James Rundle | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Newer cybersecurity companies are grappling with uncertain economic conditions as they find it harder to raise capital, continue to trim their workforces and refocus on profits after long periods of chasing growth. Fed by a glut of venture-capital investment, many private cybersecurity providers hired widely and expanded their operations significantly in recent years. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ Pro Cybersecurity Cybersecurity news, analysis and insights from WSJ's global team of reporters and editors. Cybereason, a Boston-based security company, raised $100 million in Series G financing in early April, led by SoftBank. The company’s chief executive, Lior Div, was replaced by SoftBank executive Eric Gan, with Mr. Div taking on an advisory role.

☆ U.S. FDA advisers back OTC use of Perrigo's birth control pill
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 10 (Reuters) - A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Wednesday voted in favor of using Perrigo Co's (PRGO.N) contraceptive without a prescription, paving the way for the country's first approval for an over-the-counter birth control pill. The panel remained positive on the effectiveness of the pill, not only in the general population of women but also in adolescent populations and those with limited literacy. Perrigo's Opill, currently approved for prescription use, would be the first OTC non-estrogen contraceptive pill in the United States if approved by the regulator. The FDA generally follows the advise of its experts, though it is not bound to do so. Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Nandhini Srinivasan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ IMF sees uncertainty over Japan's monetary policy, spillover globally
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While most Asian central banks must keep tightening monetary policy, Japan remains an exception with inflation still moderate - though this could change. "There is uncertainty around the direction of monetary policy in Japan, amid a rise in inflation," Srinivasan said. "Changes in Japan's monetary policy that lead to further increases in government bond yields could have global spillovers through Japanese investors, who have large investment positions in debt instruments abroad," Srinivasan said. With inflation exceeding its 2% target, markets are rife with speculation the Bank of Japan (BOJ) could modify its bond yield control policy in coming months. The BOJ kept ultra-low interest rates on Friday but announced a plan to review its past monetary policy moves, laying the groundwork for new governor Kazuo Ueda to phase out his predecessor's massive stimulus programme.

The CDC report showed that the rate of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl increased from 5.7 per 100,000 people in 2016 to 21.6 per 100,000 in 2021. Fentanyl-related deaths rose by about 55% in 2019-2020, and 24.1% in 2020-2021, said Merianne Rose Spencer, one of the report's authors. Between 2016 and 2021, the rate of drug overdose deaths involving methamphetamine increased more than fourfold, and cocaine-related overdose deaths more than doubled, the CDC said. Heroin related deaths decreased from 4.9 per 100,000 in 2016 to 2.9 in 2021, the report found. The Biden administration has been pushing for action as U.S. drug-related overdose deaths surpassed 100,000 in 2021, according to government estimates.

☆ Asia's central banks need to keep their eyes on inflation and address it head-on, IMF says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAsia's central banks need to keep their eyes on inflation and address it head-on, IMF saysKrishna Srinivasan of the International Monetary Fund says core inflation is still sticky and it expects "higher for longer for Asia, and that includes India."

☆ Everyone knows Siri is way behind. It's partly why top Apple engineers have jumped ship to Google, report says.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Apple is having a hard time convincing workers that Siri can keep up with new AI rivals. Apple lost three top engineers working on AI technology to Google, The Information reported. It's the latest example of how far behind Apple is seen to be on AI versus Google and OpenAI. Apple has lost three top engineers working on ChatGPT-like technology to Google, in a sign the iPhone-maker is struggling to supercharge its AI efforts and Siri as large language models go mainstream. They were personally poached by Google CEO Sundar Pichai after shunning Apple boss Tim Cook's efforts to keep them, the report said.

☆ A 'tinderbox' with no easy off-ramps: What the Sudan conflict means for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Smoke rises during clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, Sudan on April 19, 2023. "We urge the Sudanese army to respect the ceasefire and its conditions to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians. - | Afp | Getty ImagesNotorious Russian mercenary force Wagner Group has been linked to various commercial and military operations in Sudan. Italian citizens are boarded on an Italian Air Force C130 aircraft during their evacuation from Khartoum, Sudan, in this undated photo obtained by Reuters on April 24, 2023. "The RSF is likely to target oil infrastructure linking South Sudan with Khartoum and the export terminal at Port Sudan," Verisk Maplecroft's Hunter suggested.

☆ India's HDFC is in fine shape for its big deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HDFC Bank’s (HDBK.NS) net interest income rose 20% year-on-year in the three months to March. The $116 billion financier’s mix of deposits points to some niggles. As interest rates rise, savers tend to move idle funds from low-yielding checking accounts to fixed deposits, where money is locked up for a specific period against juicier interest rates. For now, the hotly watched net interest margin, unchanged at 4.3% for the last nine months, is holding up. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ IMF urges Asia to keep monetary policy tighter for longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Siphiwe SibekoSummarySummary Companies IMF revises up this year's Asia-Pacific growth f'castChina's reopening to underpin Asia's recoveryImpact of global banking stress on Asia limited - IMFWASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - Asian central banks may need to keep monetary policy "tighter for longer" to combat still substantial inflation risks, senior International Monetary Fund official Krishna Srinivasan said on Thursday. The latest forecast implies the region will contribute over 70% of global growth this year, Srinivasan said. The IMF expects China's economy to expand by 5.2% in 2023, higher than the previous year's 3.0% growth. "China's reopened economy is rebounding strongly, and this will generate positive spillovers to its trading partners, providing fresh momentum for Asia's growth," he said. "Unless strains increase and raise broad-based stability concerns, central banks should separate monetary policy objectives from financial stability goals," he said.

☆ Peace, love, and Hitler: How Lex Fridman's podcast became a safe space for the anti-woke tech elite
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Julia Black | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

Seemingly overnight, episodes of Fridman's podcast began racking up millions of views. YouTube/Lex FridmanIn his podcast, Fridman asks world-renowned scientists, historians, artists, and engineers a series of wide-eyed questions ("Who is God? But recently, "The Lex Fridman Podcast" has become a haven for a growing — and powerful — sector looking to dismantle years of "wokeness" and cancel culture. Twitter"The Lex Fridman Podcast" offered a rare opportunity to listen to four-hour conversations with luminaries of tech and science. Bhaskar Sunkara, the founder and publisher of the socialist magazine Jacobin who appeared on Fridman's podcast in December, praised Fridman's interviewing style.

☆ Moody's sees limited risks from banking crisis on US credit profile
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 29 (Reuters) - Ratings agency Moody's said on Wednesday it expects risks to the sovereign credit profile of the United States to be limited from the recent turmoil in the country's banking sector unless the strains deepen. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank sparked a crisis of confidence in the U.S. banking sector, leading to a run on deposits at a host of regional banks despite authorities launching emergency measures to shore up confidence. "The rapid deterioration in the operating environment for US (Aaa stable) regional banks over the past two weeks has indicated higher banking sector risk than we had previously factored in the sovereign's credit profile," Moody's said. The agency said it did not "expect significant direct fiscal costs for the sovereign from the current banking sector stress". Earlier this month, Moody's Investors Service revised its outlook on the U.S. banking system to "negative" from "stable".

☆ Bitcoin is a solution looking for a problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Since his Miami proclamations, bitcoin’s price has fallen by nearly 40%, though in the last few weeks after Silicon Valley Bank’s failure it has had a resurgence. At first glance, his prediction seems wildly optimistic but directionally reasonable – bitcoin has surged by over 35% since SVB’s collapse on March 10. What’s more, bitcoin may never have surpassed $60,000 to reach its highest-ever price level in 2021 had the Fed not kept interest rates consistently low. It’s the prospect of lower rates – not the lack of government stability – that is opening the door to riskier bets like those on bitcoin. Gold is a tangible asset, unlike bitcoin, and that’s precisely what makes it an inflation hedge.

☆ Bitcoin at $100,000? Insiders say the cryptocurrency could test new highs this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In this article BTC.BS=-USSBTC.CB=BTC.CM= Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTCryptocurrency industry insiders predict bitcoin could hit a new all-time high in 2023 and possibly reach $100,000. Bitcoin previously hit its all-time high of $68,990.90 in November 2021. related investing news How crypto prices may react to the latest Fed decision Marshall Beard, chief strategy officer at U.S.-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, said $100,000 could be a possibility for bitcoin. "I think bitcoin probably breaks all-time highs this year," Beard said, adding that the $100,000 price figure is an "interesting number." Paolo Ardoino, chief technology officer at stablecoin issuer Tether, said bitcoin could "retest" its all-time high near $69,000.

☆ Our Sri Lanka program's key focus is macroeconomic stabilization and debt sustainability: IMF
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailOur Sri Lanka program's key focus is macroeconomic stabilization and debt sustainability: IMFKrishna Srinivasan of the International Monetary Fund discusses the $2.9 billion loan that Sri Lanka secured from the International Monetary Fund.

☆ IMF is bullish Sri Lanka's crisis-stricken economy will recover as country gets bailout
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

We expect a contraction around 8% in 2022, a 3% contraction this year before the economy picks up next year." watch nowAs a result, Sri Lanka's debt levels have become unsustainable and inflation remains elevated, he added. "There are plenty of examples of IMF programs restoring stability, though these often come at the cost of painful austerity." Analysts have also argued Sri Lanka needs institutional reforms in order to achieve long-term debt sustainability. Critical reforms"Ambitious revenue-based fiscal consolidation is necessary for restoring fiscal and debt sustainability" in Sri Lanka, said Kistalina Georgieva, IMF's managing director.

☆ S&P, Moody's positive on Saudi Arabia's non-oil reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 17 (Reuters) - S&P Global on Friday raised its sovereign rating on Saudi Arabia to "A/A-1", citing expected reform and diversification plans to boost development of the kingdom's non-oil sector and shift dependence away from oil. Rival ratings agency Moody's also said that Saudi Arabia's plans will support it amid volatile oil price cycles and a global transition to sustainable energy. Moody's changed its outlook on the kingdom to "positive" from "stable", and reaffirmed its "A1" rating. Saudi Arabia's reform plans complement its "longstanding position as the world's largest oil exporter, with spare installed capacity providing it the ability to adjust production swiftly when market conditions change, in the current environment of reasonably strong global energy prices," S&P said. The ratings agency, which previously had a "A-/A-2" rating on Saudi Arabia, forecast a slow rise in the kingdom's oil production through 2026.

☆ U.S. FDA approves Acadia's Rett syndrome drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The approval comes months after the FDA declined to approve expanded use of Acadia's drug Nuplazid to treat psychosis related to Alzheimer's disease. Acadia said it plans to make the drug available to patients by the end of April. He forecast peak U.S. trofinetide sales of $487.2 million by 2035. After the FDA declined to approve the expanded use of Nuplazid, Acadia said it would not pursue that indication for Nuplazid further. Improvement of symptoms was measured according to the assessment scales Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement.

☆ U.S. FDA approves Acadia's genetic Rett syndrome drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

March 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc's (ACAD.O) drug for the treatment of Rett syndrome, a genetic brain disorder, the company said on Friday, making it the first approved drug for the condition. The approval comes months after the FDA declined to approve expanded use of Acadia's drug Nuplazid to treat psychosis related to Alzheimer's disease. Acadia said it plans to make the drug available to patients by the end of April. He forecast peak U.S. trofinetide sales of $487.2 million by 2035. Improvement of symptoms was measured according to the assessment scales Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement.

☆ Global house prices set to extend declines, risk of more with higher rates: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Hari Kishan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Predicted drops in house prices in the U.S., Canada, Britain, Germany, Australia and New Zealand will come off price surges of as much as 50% since the start of the pandemic in 2020. House prices in Canada and New Zealand, which began to fall last year, were forecast to register a peak-to-trough drop of at least 20%, the poll showed. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsDouble-digit falls from recent peaks were also predicted for Australia (16.0%), Germany (11.5%) and the U.S. (10.0%). Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsAmong the most commonly cited reasons for house prices to remain elevated were crimped supply, made worse during the pandemic, when construction activity came to a near-halt, and ever-rising demand. While India's housing market will remain resilient despite rising interest rates, home prices in Dubai were also predicted to rise steadily.

☆ Global house prices set to extend declines, risk of more with higher rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Hari Kishan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

☆ ECB deposit rate to peak at 3.75% or higher as inflation stays sticky: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Jonathan Cable | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Signage is seen outside the European Central Bank (ECB) building, in Frankfurt, Germany, July 21, 2022. All 60 economists polled by Reuters March 7-9 believed her and said the bank's deposit rate would rise 50 basis points to 3.00% on Thursday. Medians in the poll showed the euro zone's central bank adding 25 basis points at the following three meetings in May, June and July to give a terminal deposit rate of 3.75%, higher than the 3.25% peak expected in a February poll. While the median showed the deposit rate peaking at 3.75% it was a view held by only 19 of 60 economists surveyed. There is now only a 34% chance of a recession within the coming year, the poll found, down from 50% in a January poll.

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